Will/Estates

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Estate Planning and Administration

My goal is to bring you peace of mind, knowing that your family is protected and your wishes will be fulfilled if something happens to you.
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Estate Planning Services

While a will is the most well-known estate-planning document, making sure your family is taken care of and ensuring your wishes are carried out if you die or become incapacitated also requires other important documents.

Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney

Our full suite of estate planning legal services includes:
• wills
• powers of attorney
• end of life directives
• guardianship applications
• trusts (life insurance, trusts for children, "alter ego", joint partner)
Contact us for a free consultation

What to expect from our estate planning services

The fact is, if you don't do appropriate estate planning, provincial law may decide the distribution of your estate for you.
Your circumstances are unique, and I want to make sure you have the protection you need for the people you love, and that your legacy is what you want it to be. And because your circumstances will keep changing, it is critical to keep all your estate planning documentation up to date.
What to expect from our estate planning services.

When we get together to plan your estate, it's important that I learn more about you. We might meet several times to discuss your financial situation and your assets. Most importantly, I work to get a clear understanding of your wishes for your legacy. Here are some things we will need to discuss.
  • We will talk about your real estate.
  • If you have life insurance, we discuss the benefits of a life insurance trust.
  • If you have children, we talk about them. We'll explore any special needs your children or other potential beneficiaries might have. We discuss whether you might need a Henson trust (a special trust for beneficiaries with disabilities).
  • I may need to talk to your financial advisor and your accountant.
  • If you are considering leaving bequests to your favourite charities, we will talk about that, too.
  • If you own an incorporated business, we will review whether you might be able to reduce estate administration tax (probate fees) by having both a "public asset" will and a "private asset" will.
The fact is, if you don't do appropriate estate planning, provincial law may decide the distribution of your estate for you.
Your circumstances are unique, and I want to make sure you have the protection you need for the people you love, and that your legacy is what you want it to be. And because your circumstances will keep changing, it is critical to keep all your estate planning documentation up to date.
Start your estate planning now
To start the estate planning process, call me at (613) 563-7114 or complete our secure online form.

Any information you provide is secure and confidential.
Estate Administration Services
When a loved one dies, I can also help with estate administration. This includes applying for a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee and working with the estate executor to administer the estate.

It also includes handling the estate administration tax (often referred to as probate fees), which is calculated on the total value (in Canadian dollars) of a deceased person's estate.
The values of following assets are included to determine the estate administration tax:
  • Ontario real estate (minus encumbrances)
  • bank accounts
  • investments (e.g., stocks, bonds, trust units, options)
  • vehicles and vessels (e.g., cars, trucks, boats, ATVs, motorcycles)
  • other personal property and accounts
  • etc.
The estate cannot avoid paying estate administration taxes that are properly due. But if you are the estate trustee/executor, we can help you avoid the stress involved in taking care of them correctly and efficiently, so that you can focus on more important things.

Any information you provide is secure and confidential.